0:00
What is going on at McLaren? Recently they just don't seem to be revealing many new cars
0:05
There is a new generation of McLarens coming, behind me isn't one of those
0:09
This is the last of the old school, the new 788 HS
0:30
This is the end of an era because the 788 is possibly the last pure V8 McLaren supercar
0:40
A new range of McLarens is coming and they'll be hybrid powered, but the 788 is a send-off for the 720 and 750S platform
0:48
And it takes the existing formula we know and love to the extreme. We're talking new aero, more power, and a bit of LT magic in how it's been set up
0:57
which sounds like a tantalizing recipe. So this is basically a 750S pushed to the max, and that means it's got no hybrid stuff on it
1:07
It's a pure V8 twin-turbo supercar with rear drive, and it's got more power than the 750S as well
1:14
so up to 777 horsepower. And because of that simplicity, it's a really lightweight car as well
1:20
So they quote about 1265 kilos, but that's a dry weight and still much lighter than a lot of the competition
1:27
And I mean the 750s is replacement is probably going to be a hybrid It going to be more powerful more capable But if you drive a 750S and need more than that you mad because that car is a wild ride in the best way
1:41
I think this will be more of the same. The HS badge has only been used twice before
1:46
on special versions of the 12C and 675LT. They're some of the rarest cars McLaren makes
1:53
with a going over from MSO, McLaren's special operations division. Customisation is a big part of the HS treatment but it goes beyond surface level tweaks
2:03
Mechanically the 788 is basically the LT version of the 750S we've always wanted
2:10
Underneath you'll find pretty much the same chassis hardware as a 765LT so that means it sits 5mm lower on LT springs with LT damper tuning
2:20
The difference is that the 788 uses McLaren's latest proactive chassis control system which has improved software
2:26
The carbon brakes are derived from the center and a load of bodywork changes increased downfalls by 10% over the 765
2:34
So this thing looks so extreme, but the positioning is quite weird because the HS, McLaren says, is actually a little bit more of a road car than the 675
2:44
So it's got softer engine mounts. It's got a slightly different engine sound profile as well for the road
2:50
But you look at it and it looks like a GT3 car with number plates
2:53
So at the front, aero-wise, we've got this S-duct here, which channels air through the bumper
2:59
over the bonnet, generates more dowel force. You got a new splitter here you got new center wheels Along the side you got this new side skirt borrowed from the 765LT with an intake here as well But the real action happens around the back
3:14
because you've got this massive carbon wing. It actually looks like a fixed wing
3:18
but it's really an active wing that can flip up and be an air brake too
3:23
You've got this titanium exhaust with a texture on there, carbon diffuser, and my favorite feature
3:29
is this snorkel in the rear window. It's not actually an engine intake, it's just the cooling, but it's really cool
3:35
Kind of looks like an old F1 GT-R. The cooling improvements have allowed McLaren to push the 4-litre twin-turbo V8 even harder
3:42
It now produces 777 brake horsepower thanks to a new map, but torque is the same at 590 pounds foot
3:50
All that is sent through a 7-speed dual-clutch box, still with an open diff, and McLaren's torque vectoring by braking
3:57
There's only so much power that you can put through two rear tyres, even if they are Pirelli Trofeo R's
4:02
so the 788's 2.8 second 0-62 time isn't any quicker than a 765's
4:09
The top speed? 205 miles an hour. So the interior of the 788 HS
4:16
It's very much familiar 750S actually, which is not a bad thing by any means
4:21
I think McLaren do cabins as well as anyone, at least in terms of your driving position
4:26
and you're sat nice and low. We've got these carbon back seats as well
4:30
The wheel is kind of perfectly centered as well and just ahead of you in the middle of the footwell
4:35
of the pedals so you can really easily left foot brake And just the environment in this thing you got alcantara everywhere you can actually see the exposed carbon body if you look to the left here
4:45
out of the window which is also really cool and you've also got this carbon fiber center console
4:50
here with cup holders so bmw take note you don't actually need to get rid of the cup holders if
4:56
you're doing something like that like they're doing the cs models but this car is going to be
5:00
really limited and every car is going to go through mso which is mclaren's kind of special
5:05
operations where you can customize absolutely everything in here the stitching the seat
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the finish on the carbon all sorts and there's only going to be 200 built in total so that's
5:16
split evenly between 100 spiders and 100 coupes so it's a really exciting car but what mclaren
5:22
really needs is something mainstream and new to take on ferrari and lamborghini i think but
5:28
In the meantime, if this can channel any of the character of the older LT models, it could be one of the all-time greats
5:35
That rarity will come at a price. McLaren won't put an exact number on it, but you'll probably pay around half a million if you want a 788
5:44
And even if you do have the cash, good luck getting one, because McLaren owners are going to be prioritised in the allocation process, and there's already quite a big queue
5:53
So this is a car that very few will get to experience, which is a shame because it has all the makings of an incredible, hugely exciting supercar
6:03
Let's hope each owner actually drives and enjoys it for what it is
